Studies on Nundydroog gold ore with a view to improving gold recovery

Abstract

GOLD is distributed widely in India though occurrence in workable quantities are not many. The most important gold mines are found in Kolar Gold Field situated in Mysore State. Although some 26 quartz lodes more or less parallel are known to occur, only one reef namely, the Champion, is being exploited and all the four mines viz., Mysore, Champion, Oreeaum and Nundydroog have been developed along its strike. During the last few years the ore from the western reef of Nundydroog is being mined in large tonnages. Nearly 21 000 tons per month are milled and the ore as an average carried a gold content of 5.6 dwt/ton. Since the ore body is highly mineralised, several metallurgical problems, such as greater wear and tear of machineries, difficulties during cyanidation due to the presence of sulphides, increased consumption of chemicals and higher tailing values are experienced at Kolar.